JIHAI Sun is ready to extend his stay with the club he has come to regard as a second family.

Manchester City's Chinese defender is contracted until the end of next season but would be happy to lengthen the deal as he continues his football education.

Right back Sun has become an integral part of Kevin Keegan's Premiership side having started 19 games this season.

That he has become such a regular has surprised the 26-year-old student of the game though he readily admits he did plenty of groundwork in preparation for the current campaign.

"Asian players in general lack the power of Europeans so during the summer back home in China I worked with my father, an athletics coach, on building my strength and stamina," he revealed.

Technique

"When I got back for pre-season I had a strong base and it has served me well. The work I did was not something I could do while the season is on because of the amount of rest and recovery time needed. I now have more power and it was where I was lacking compared to European players."

Working during the holidays is just one example of the Chinese star's determination to become the best player he possibly can. He is an assiduous studier of technique and an inveterate note taker.

"I like to analyse what I have done on the pitch. I think about it a great deal. I keep a diary of all the games in which I play and even draw pictures from training sessions so that I do not forget what I have been told," he declared.

"I think I have improved as a player since I came here but I also feel I can still get better. I learn a lot from people at City, from the manager, the coaches, the fitness coach and my teammates but I know there is still work to do.

"And it is important that I add some consistency to my game."

Popular

Back home in China, Sun remains their most popular international player and when he is shown live on television hundreds of millions tune in. He is keen not to waste that kind of recognition and believes he will go into coaching back home when his time in England ends.

"I have played football for a long time and it is in my blood," he acknowledged. "I couldn't just walk away from it. I will work in football when I return to China.

"I feel that I have helped open doors for Chinese players to come to England but it is still a big culture change for them.

"I think a lot of players in China could play here and the better I do, that Lie Tie does at Everton and Dong at United the more it will encourage players from my country to do more of that.

"We have developed quickly as a nation but to get clubs up to the standard they are here in England it will take a lot of co-operation from the people themselves, the clubs, the coaches the administrators and the Government. We need time to improve, to become more professional."

Hopes

His present deal runs out at the end of next season and all things being equal he hopes for another one.

"I certainly would like to stay," he confirmed.

"No-one can predict what the future holds, a lot of things could determine whether I stay or not but I love this club.

"City feels like a home. All the fans, officials, the chairman, the manager, the staff and teammates make this club feel like a big family and that is a great feeling for someone who has come from a different culture.